Mesh transceiver for in-band on-channel broadcasting (IBOC) mesh network

Abstract

Digital content can be broadcast in a sideband of an analog broadcast channel using multiple digital in-band on-channel (IBOC) transceivers connected in a mesh configuration to form an IBOC mesh network. The digital IBOC transceivers are positioned at various geographic locations, so that unlike traditional “HD” radio broadcasts, the IBOC broadcast transmission is spread out over a wide area, using multiple low power digital IBOC transceivers rather than being broadcast from the same location as the analog signal. An edge transceiver can limit IBOC transmission power of the IBOC transceivers to a desired portion of the power used to broadcast the analog signal. The edge server can make this determination based on measurements taken at the geographically distributed digital IBOC transceivers. The IBOC mesh network provides bi-directional communication between a mesh transceiver and a user device, and can be used to deliver user feedback.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A mesh transceiver for use in an in-band on-channel (IBOC) mesh network including a plurality of mesh transceivers located at a plurality of different physical locations, the mesh transceiver comprising:
 a variable-power IBOC transmitter; 
 at least a first network interface; 
 a processor and associated memory coupled to the variable-power IBOC transmitter and the at least a first network interface, the processor and associated memory configured to obtain information related to IBOC transmission power levels of the variable-power IBOC transmitter; 
 the at least a first network interface configured to:
 transmit the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels to an external processing device configured to manage the IBOC transmission power levels; 
 receive content for IBOC broadcast by the variable-power IBOC transmitter; 
 receive a power-control signal generated by the external processing device, the power-control signal indicating a particular IBOC power level to be used by the variable-power IBOC transmitter; and 
 
 the variable-power IBOC transmitter configured to broadcast the content at the particular IBOC power level. 
 
     
     
       2. The mesh transceiver of  claim 1 , wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes a transmission power level associated with the variable-power IBOC transmitter. 
     
     
       3. The mesh transceiver of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an FM receiver; 
 power measurement circuitry configured to measure a signal strength of a broadcast signal received by the FM receiver; and 
 wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes information indicating the signal strength of the broadcast signal received by the FM receiver. 
 
     
     
       4. The mesh transceiver of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the power measurement circuitry is configured to measure a signal strength of a digital broadcast signal received by the FM receiver; and 
 wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes information indicating the signal strength of the digital broadcast signal received by the FM receiver. 
 
     
     
       5. The mesh transceiver of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the power measurement circuitry is configured to measure a signal strength of an analog broadcast signal received by the FM receiver; and 
 wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes information indicating the signal strength of the analog broadcast signal received by the FM receiver. 
 
     
     
       6. The mesh transceiver of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least a first network interface is configured to forward the power-control signal generated by the external processing device to at least a second mesh transceiver based on one or more addresses included in the power-control signal. 
 
     
     
       7. The mesh transceiver of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the at least a first network interface is configured to:
 receive a forwarded power-control signal generated by the external processing device; and 
 forward the forwarded power-control signal to at least a second mesh transceiver. 
 
 
     
     
       8. A method for use by a mesh transceiver included in an in-band on-channel (IBOC) mesh network including a plurality of mesh transceivers located at a plurality of different physical locations, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by a processor included in the mesh transceiver, information related to IBOC transmission power levels of a variable-power IBOC transmitter included in the mesh transceiver; 
 transmitting to an external processing device configured to manage the IBOC transmission power levels, via an interface included in the mesh transceiver, the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels; 
 receiving at the mesh transceiver, via the interface: 
 content for IBOC broadcast by the variable-power IBOC transmitter; 
 a power-control signal generated by the external processing device, the power-control signal indicating a particular IBOC power level to be used by the variable-power IBOC transmitter; and 
 broadcasting the content at the particular IBOC power level using the variable-power IBOC transmitter. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes a transmission power level associated with the variable-power IBOC transmitter. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a broadcast signal at an FM receiver included in the mesh transceiver; 
 measuring a signal strength of the broadcast signal received by the FM receiver; and 
 wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes information indicating the signal strength of the broadcast signal received by the FM receiver. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 measuring a signal strength of a digital broadcast signal received by the FM receiver; and 
 wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes information indicating the signal strength of the digital broadcast signal received by the FM receiver. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein:
 measuring a signal strength of an analog broadcast signal received by the FM receiver; and 
 wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes information indicating the signal strength of the analog broadcast signal received by the FM receiver. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 forwarding the power-control signal to at least a second mesh transceiver based on one or more addresses included in the power-control signal. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving a forwarded power-control signal; and 
 forwarding the forwarded power-control signal to at least a second mesh transceiver. 
 
     
     
       15. An in-band on-channel (IBOC) mesh network including a plurality of mesh transceivers located at a plurality of different physical locations, the IBOC mesh network comprising:
 a first processing device configured to:
 generate and transmit a power-control signal indicating an IBOC power level to be used by one or more of the plurality of mesh transceivers; 
 
 at least a second processing device configured to implement a mesh transceiver including:
 a variable-power IBOC transmitter; 
 at least a first network interface; 
 a processor and associated memory coupled to the variable-power IBOC transmitter and the at least a first network interface, the processor and associated memory configured to obtain information related to IBOC transmission power levels of the variable-power IBOC transmitter; 
 the at least a first network interface configured to:
 transmit the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels to the first processing device; 
 receive content for IBOC broadcast by the variable-power IBOC transmitter; 
 receive the power-control signal generated by the first processing device; and 
 
 the variable-power IBOC transmitter configured to broadcast the content in accordance with the power-control signal. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The IBOC mesh network of  claim 15 , wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes a transmission power level associated with the variable-power IBOC transmitter. 
     
     
       17. The IBOC mesh network of  claim 15 , further comprising:
 an FM receiver; 
 power measurement circuitry configured to measure a signal strength of a broadcast signal received by the FM receiver; and 
 wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes information indicating the signal strength of the broadcast signal received by the FM receiver. 
 
     
     
       18. The IBOC mesh network of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the power measurement circuitry is configured to measure a signal strength of a digital broadcast signal received by the FM receiver; and 
 wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes information indicating the signal strength of the digital broadcast signal received by the FM receiver. 
 
     
     
       19. The IBOC mesh network of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the power measurement circuitry is configured to measure a signal strength of an analog broadcast signal received by the FM receiver; and 
 wherein the information related to the IBOC transmission power levels includes information indicating the signal strength of the analog broadcast signal received by the FM receiver. 
 
     
     
       20. The IBOC mesh network of  claim 15 , wherein:
 the at least a first network interface is configured to forward the power-control signal generated by the first processing device to at least a second mesh transceiver based on one or more addresses included in the power-control signal.